The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-02
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
A Member of the Constitutional Convention
Explains Its Provisions.

A Member of the Constitutional Convention
Explains Its Provisions
To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal.
The Constitution Of Indiana provides for the
election of q Governor and Lieutenant governor
of the State at the time and place Of choosing
members for the General Assembly. The pri-
mary object of Lieutenantgovernor is to fill
the Office Of Governor in case of the latters
death. resignation or inability to serve. If it
were not for this the Office could very properly
be dispensed with. The mere matter of presid
ing over the Senate is of small Importance COM
pared with competent person to fill the Office of
Governor. This competent person the people
are supposed to provide in the selection of
nantgovernor; and. matter of fact,
Indiana has had some very able Lieutenant
governors. 1t would be serious misfortune for
the State to be without q Governor. and
q very sad thing to have Governor
who was a disgrace to the State.
What is the constitutional remedyY Section
10, Article g. puts the Lieutenant-governor into
the Office Of Governor the very moment the Of
fee becomes vacant Let us now come to the
of Lieutenant governor Manson He
Gates the Office. What is the next step to make
the working of the Constitution perfect it
should be9 Governor Gray. without delay,
should fill the Office by appointment The Con-
stitution gives him that power. That instru-
ment would have been less perfect if it had not
given the power. (See Sec Is of the same ar
tcle. Now, what is the duration of the APP
pointmentf Same section: (which shall expire
when successor shall have been elected and
qualified" clearly implying that the people
should exercise their sovereign power of election
at the first feasible opportunity. Again,
in Section 10, is the same mention
and reference to election by the people,
1t can hardly be doubted that the Constitution
intended and provided that there should be
Governor in allegiance in the shape of Lieu
tenant-governor to take the place of Governor
when he should step down and out. Without
such provision that instrument would mani
testify have been imperfect. 1t is the duty of
the chief executive of the State to keep that
instrument in perfect working order. Had he
appointed, at the proper time, Lieutenant
governor, Green Smith would not now be dis
gracing himself, his party, and the State
All those provisions of the Constitution affect
ing the right of the people to express their opin-
ions and preferences at the hallotbox should
ask the strict constructionists what
kind of rulings would be required to worm
Green Smith into the Office Of Governors
The power of the Governor to fill these vacan-
cles cannot be taken from him. It is given him
oy the Constitution; can it be supposed that
he will be any more likely to abuse this power
than IN the appointment Of a United States Sen
ator or judge of the Supreme Court
1t is with feelings of sorrow that allude to
the conference agreement. Things will some
times happen in the lives of individuals that
surpasses belief; but when such things occur in
a body of men, and those Representatives, too,
it is the unkindest cut of all
TERRE HAUTE, Jan. 81 c. w. BARBOUR.